Aiming for the High Score…and Charity

Taking on a gaming marathon on a classic arcade title is no simple task in most cases and when it’s all said and done, the result is some personal glory for the person who achieved the score. But it doesn’t always have to be that way, as we will see tomorrow when Tim McVey of Oskaloosa, Iowa takes a crack regain the world record score on the classic title Nibbler. He first obtained the title back in 1984 and in doing so also became the first gamer in history to achieve over a billion points on a game (granted, many games up until that point couldn’t even register that high of a score) but that was recently broken by Rick Carter who landed a sweet score of 1,002,222,360 in under 50 hours. In addition to streaming the attempt online, Tim in conjunction with the Star Worlds Arcade of DeKalb, IL will be playing for charity, particularly the Child’s Play charity, which you can read more about here. Players will be able to donate via the link next to the stream, as well as through the SWA website thus giving some extra meaning to the world record attempt.

To help, we at Arcade Heroes will also like to help support the cause (and give you a chance to do so as well) so you can donate using this widget:

For further details, check out the press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Video Games, More Than “Child’s Play”

Oskaloosa, IA (September 2, 2011) – This Saturday, September 3, 2011, Tim McVey of Oskaloosa, Iowa will be attempting to regain the world record on a video arcade game called Nibbler. Tim is known as the first video gamer to reach over one billion points on an arcade game using a single credit back in January 1984. Not only is McVey playing to regain his title, Star Worlds Arcade in DeKalb, IL is coordinating an effort to encourage cash donations to Child’s Play as a show of support for Tim’s efforts. Child’s Play is a game industry charity that, since 2003, is dedicated to improving the lives of sick children with toys and games in a network of over 60 hospitals worldwide.

Live video of the attempt at a new world record will be streamed on-line from McVey’s home via Star Worlds Arcade (www.starworldsarcade.com), Twitch.tv, and other web sites. A donation link will be available on the Star Worlds Arcade web site that will allow funds to be donated directly to Child’s Play. Patrick O’Malley, owner of Star Worlds Arcade, encourages donations of any amount toward the charity. The organization purchases everything from video games to movies and toys for needy, hospitalized children. O’Malley hopes to raise at least $1,000 for the charity during the next two weeks. He says, “Donations of any amount, even $10.00 to purchase batteries for those toys, would be appreciated.”

Star Worlds Arcade is a classic video arcade that was recently inducted into the Twin Galaxies International Registry of Historic Video Game Arcades as one of history’s original Golden Age Arcades from the 1980s.

McVey expects to reach his goal after over 40 hours of marathon game play. The donation link on Star Worlds Arcade web page will remain active until September 17. More information about Child’s Play can be found on their web site at www.childsplaycharity.org.

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About Star Worlds Arcade

Star Worlds Arcade is an independently and locally owned company located in DeKalb, IL. It is a classic video arcade that has survived since the 1980s and maintains a clean and friendly family atmosphere.

I'm a lifelong fan of video games and I have been operating my own arcade, The Game Grid Arcade in West Valley City, Utah for the past six years. I joined Arcade Heroes in 2007 and took ownership of the site in 2010.